Electrical translating apparatus



Sept. 29, 1931.

H. CRAGO ELECTRICAL TRANSLATING APPARATUS Filed on. 9, 1929 a full If ..i v 5 ill I III?- G INVENTOR 2 P,H-.CLrq7o,

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE If PAUL H. CRAGO, F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH I & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA i I Application filed October 9, 1929. Serial No. 398,339.

My invention relates to electrical translating apparatus of the type involving direct current relays. One feature of my invention is the provision of means for increasing the 6, release period of a direct current relay upon de-energization, without affecting the time required for the relay to close when it becomes energized.

, I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

' The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

15. Referring to the drawing, the reference character T designates the trolley wire of a direct current electric railway. This wire is constantly charged by a generator G, one

, terminal of which is connected with the wire T and the other of which is connected with ground at 3. Associated with the trolley wire T is a trolley contactor C, which is so positioned as to be electrically connected with the trolley wire during the passage of '25 the trolley wheel of an electric car.

The reference character A designates a direct current relay, one terminal of which is connected with the trolley contactor C,

Y and the other terminal of which is connected with the ground 3. Preferably a non-inductive resistance R of considerable value is included in the circuit for the relay A, and, as shown in the drawing, it is interposed between this relay and the contactor I '35 C. The circuit for relay A is provided with a shunt around the relay winding, which shunt includes a front contact 4 of the relay and preferably a non-inductive resistance R 1 The relay A may control apparatus of any suitable character, such ,for example, as a highway crossing bell or gate. As here shown, this control is effected through the 1 medium of a second relay D, having a pickup circuit which passes from terminal B of a suitable source of current, through front contact 5 of relay A, and the winding of relay D to terminal 0 of the same source of current. Relay D is also provided with a stick circuit which passes from terminal B, through a circuit controller 7 front conrelay to terminal 0. It follows that when relay A becomes closed, relay D will become energized and will subsequently remain en ergized until circuit controller 7 is opened.

When a trolley car passes the contactor C at high speed, this contactor is electrically connected with the trolley wire T for a very brief interval of time, so that relay A is momentarily energized. Owing to the high non-inductive resistance R in the circuit for this relay, the inductance of the relay causes the greater part of the impressed voltage to appear across the terminals of the relay at the moment that the circuit is closed, thereby shortening the time required for the relay to close its front contacts. When these contacts close, the shunt around the winding of elay A becomes closed, and this accomplishes two results. In the first place, it decreases the energization of the relay t avoid shock at the stop pins on the pole faces of the relay. In the second place, it delays the decay of magnetic flux in the relay after the circuit for the relay is opened at contactor C. By the proper choice of resistances R and R the release period of the relay may be made about twenty times the pick-up period. Ordinarily, the time required for a direct current relay to release is less than the time required for it to pick up, and, consequently, my invention is especially well adapted for the control of signaling apparatus by trolley contactors. In other words, I have provided means for insuring that relay A will close during the passage of a high speed car, and will remain closed long enough to effectively energize the second relay D. That is to say, the front contacts of relay A remain closed for a considerably longer time than the time during which contactor C is electrically connected with the trolley wire T, and, consequently, the two relays A and D may be picked up insuccession with the assurance that they will operate in the desired manner during the passage of a high speed car.

Although I have .herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a normally open cirlay including a front contact of the relay and a resistance whereby the release of the relay is delayed after the relay becomes deenergized.

2. In combination, a normally open circuit including in series a source of direct current and a relay as well as a non-inductive resistance of considerable value, means for closing said circuit for a brief interval of time to momentarily energize the relay, a shunt around the winding of said relay including a front contact of the relay and a resistance, a second relay, a pick-up circuit for said second relay including a front con: tact of thefirst relay, and a stick circuit for said second relay excluding the front contact of the first relay, whereby the release of said first relay is delayed for a long enough period to insure that the second relay willbecome closed.

3. In combination, a normally open circuit including a sourceof direct current and the operating Winding of a relay, means for closing said circuit for abrief interval ofotime to momentarily energize the relay, and a shunt around the relay operating winding including a front contact, of the relay whereby the release of the relay is delayed after the relay becomes de-energized. 1

4.,In combination, a normally opencircuit including a source of direct current and the operating winding of a relay, means for closing said circuit for a brief, interval of time to momentarily energize the relay, and a shunt around the relay operating winding including a front contact of the relay and a resistance, whereby the release of the relay is delayed after the relay becomes Clo-energized.

5.. In combination, a normally open circult lncludmg 1n serles a source of direct current and the operating winding of a relay as well as a non-inductive resistance of considerable value, means for closing said circuit for a brief interval of. time. to momentarily energize the relay, and a shunt around said relay operating winding including a front contact of the relay, whereby the release of the relay is delayedafter the relay becomes de-energized.

trolley wire, a trolley contactor associated with said wire, a relay having one terminal connected with said contactor and the other with the ground, and a shunt around the.

winding of said relay including a front contact of the relay, whereby the release of the relay is delayed after the relay becomes deenergized.

7. In combination, an trolley wire, with said wire, a relay having one terminal connected with said'contactor and the other with the ground, a non-inductive resistance of considerable value connected in series with said relay, and a shunt around the relay including a front contact of the relay and a resistance, whereby the release of the electric railway 6. In combination, an electric railway a trolley contactor associated relay is delayed after the relay becomes deenergized. I

8. In combination, an electric railway trolley wire, a trolley contactor associated with said wire, a relay having one terminal connected with said contactor and the other with the ground, a shuntaround the winding of said relay including a front contact of the relay, a second relay, a pick-up circuit for said second relay including a front contact of the first relay, and a stick circuit for said second relay excluding the front contact of the first relay, whereby the release of said first relay is delayed for a long enough period to insure that lay will become closed. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

PAUL H. CRAGO.

the second re- 

